The Maine Supreme Judicial Court on Thursday ruled that the taped confession of Nathaneal Nightingale and some physical evidence were appropriately allowed at his trial.

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) _ Maine's highest court has upheld the conviction of a Burlington man found guilty of killing a husband and wife in rural eastern Maine in 2009.

The Supreme Judicial Court on Thursday ruled that the taped confession of Nathaneal Nightingale and some physical evidence were appropriately allowed at his trial.

The Bangor Daily News reports that Nightingale's attorney argued in the appeal that his client's confession was inadmissible. But the court said he voluntarily submitted to questioning and was twice read his Miranda rights.

Nightingale was convicted in March 2011 of manslaughter in the death of Michael Miller Sr. and murder in the death of Miller's wife, Valerie. Both were 47.

Prosecutors say the Millers were slain in their Webster Plantation pawn shop in a botched robbery attempt.